Our Monthly Frugal Reset -

Want to reset your budget? I tell you how we reset our frugal budget every single month.
Frugal Queen in France
We are a British couple living in Brittany on a budget.
Frugal recipes, days out, home renovations and day to day making do in France.
We’ll give you hints, tips, advice and an insight into our life in France.
Website www.frugalqueeninfrance.com/
Instagram / frugalqueen. .
Equipment used
Camera : iPhone
Editing : iMovie on a Mac mini
Music:
KZbin Copyright Free
Epidemic Sound
Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Artist: audionautix.com/
Some Sound from Zapsplat.com
KZbin Audio Library
Apple iMovie*

[@jengarding5501]

Ms. Jane, I wanted to let you know that you saved me money this last Sunday. I had to work some extra hours as I was trying to make some deadlines, and I thought "I should stop and get myself a fancy coffee as a treat since I have to work!" Then I thought about you asking if that was on my budget, and I decided that no, it wasn't and just brought coffee from home. So thank you! Even if I'm a random internet stranger, you still helped me. :)

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

I'm proud of you

[@socorro6476]

It’s amazing how shopping my own pantry has given me comfort to know if I have some type of emergency, I will be able to use whatever I have for over a year. I am also able to plan my meals and not waste food. I also share whatever I can with family members. I am happier and less stressed living a frugal lifestyle. Most importantly, it has helped me to be more aware, connected, and grow in my spiritual faith. I love your shows.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

That’s a very good stock pile

[@judimantos904]

Have already put away money for possible dental work in the future and for Christmas 2024. Now I’m saving for fixed expenses for 2025! You are a good teacher and I feel less stressed about money than I used to be. Thanks, Jane.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Wonderful!

[@marlyngeeding1877]

Love your hair down, very beautiful. This video was very informative. I use quicken on my computer to itemize my monthly expenses and bank accounts. I have a long term savings account, a regular savings account for short term goals and yearly taxes, house and cars insurance, and finally a checking account for everyday expenses. Since I am retired early from nursing due to a physical disability, I can't put anymore money into my IRA'S, so I yearly open a new CD that has higher interest rates. Really loved watching your videos. ❤😊

[@mdilworth7564]

By adhering to your advice to shop the refrig/freezer and pantry first, then the store sales I have been able to save approximately $200 a month! A real game changer! Thank you both for all the great advice you continue to give.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

That is awesome!

[@justjet]

I was gifted a leather bound journal in 2013. I have used it for my bills. Each page gets 2 months. I list month, bills, date paid and confirmation numbers. Under that I list anything else I paid that month like medication, dr visits, gas, etc. It makes it so easy for me to keep track. I can see at a glance how that month went. I can also look back and see what was spent last year at this time and how much the bills increased.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Really organized and thanks for sharing

[@lynnhensley4326]

I use a large 5 subjects composition note book for this. It last several years.

[@paulamonaghan3280]

I am on a fixed income; veteran who is disabled. So I set my budget up the last week of the month for the next month. After being in my current home for a while I am able to budget a set amount for my utilities, though I err on the high side with some wiggle room. If those bills come in lower (which they always do) I put the difference into a savings account in case that money might be needed at any point later on. I have sinking funds for all other bills and whatever expenses that I regularly have. Nothing else gives me peace of mind knowing that everything is taken care of. My emergency fund is fully funded but I contribute about 25% of my income to it every month for the "just in cases". Love your videos and I appreciate the time that you take to produce these videos.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

You're doing great work there

[@smiley9987]

Planning,planning,planning-the key for peace of mind! And saving. And goals. You said it all. Yes,that's the way to go! 👍🥳💪

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks for watching and commenting

[@ellefson1]

I find your real life examples so helpful. Even though your life is very different than mine, seeing these principles in practice instead of just theory makes it so much easier to apply them to my life. Thanks for sharing with us!

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

You are so welcome! We're happy to help.

[@user-tm5kc8oq4y]

Thank you so much for sharing, always great information. Trying not to spend this month, use what I have, however have to get gas for car, I pick up grandson from school. Thank you Jane Mike and adorable puppies.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

You are so welcome!

[@janetstonerook4552]

I too am keeping busy in the yard and garden areas and spring cleaning in the house on rainy days when I can't work outside. And limiting my shopping trips out to 2 or 3 a month. I'm using up every little bit of any household or food item before it goes on my shopping list for next time. It's all about prioritizing and being mindful in making and sticking to my budget decisions.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Sounds great!

[@luba-healthywithluba6866]

Thank you so much for your helpful video, Jane. You are so organized and intentional. 💐

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

You are so welcome!

[@jeanmargaretrafferty4012]

This week I needed a new car battery, and then my cooker broke, and today, the fridge freezer decided to give up thank goodness I had sinking funds for all of them so it was stress free financially but still abit of a head ache...... thank you for all your videos. I don't miss any

[@markritacco270]

The good news is you have now passed the "bad things that come in threes". On a MUCH brighter note...CONGRATULATIONS to be able to cover it with as little of stress as possible. 👏

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Oh no! At least you were prepared

[@gladyschandler6724]

I plan things every a.m. while having coffee. Check budget, bank, calendar for appointments, and bills I need to pay.

[@markritacco270]

👏👏

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

That’s great to be organized

[@lynnhensley4326]

An unexpected fridge repair and a planned siding cleaning, power washing, of our 2 story house. Sinking funds came to the rescue. Thanks for you detailed budget information. For some reason I don't get notifications from your channel. I do subscribe. Not sure why.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Click it again, you tube isn't perfect. Thanks so much

[@janbreeze1227]

Another great video. I have been following you for a while and use lots of your brilliant ideas in my transition to full retirement, which I did in February this year. I’ve enjoyed the budgeting side of it so thank you for all of your help and inspiration. X

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

So glad! Thanks for watching and commenting

[@markritacco270]

I have no mortgage and no debt. I have a strict budget where I know where every penny is going each month. Most months I do a no-buy because I do not need anything really. To begin with, each and every day that I have been retired, which was early at 59 1/2 (for tax reasons) in Sept 2019. I took my SS at 62. I go for a walk in the morning for a minimum of 40 minutes and have not missed a single day no matter what the weather is like. I live on the East coast of the US, so in the warmer months, I have an extensive garden that takes about 1.5 hours a day to water and tend. For indoor entertainment, I have a vast collection of music [records, tapes (cassette/reel to reel), CDs, and high-res digital downloads] that I either listened to on multiple headphones or tube stereo gear. For a few hours a day I will watch media on my computer through a 32-inch 4k monitor. If and when I have something go wrong or need general maintenance on my house, I fix everything myself. Most of all I DO NOT care what others think of me, as I am not one that NEEDS to keep up appearances with others, and to me, it is so refreshing.

[@elizabethcoates3024]

Well your timing on this video is proof that great minds think alike.😉 I have spent the past 3 days doing a reset, reorganization of many aspects of our life. I have gone through my garden and made note of "volunteer" plants as mom called them, as well as herbs that are growing fast. While at the same time planting all of my brassicas out. Then I went through the refrigerator to determine space after finding a great sale on eggs, cottage cheese, and pears. Ensuring I have space, before clicking buy now. Then began a plan on how to preserve those for the pantry as well as what meals to make from the stragglers left in my refrigerator this week. And finally I did a projection for my budget going forward to the end of the year, because we have a winter trip planned and I know that we have a few expenses for that to pay in advance, as well as saving extra money now for the trip. I am shopping weekly between site to get the best flights and researched the best prices for them, as well as a travel card that if I use it to buy these tickets, then the reward points will pay for the next international tickets(Mind you I will have the cost of the tickets already saved before buying them). Living frugally can be rewarding. We travel frugally as well. I made salad, using last of romaine, carrot sticks and 2 eggs hard boiled and quartered, and a scoop of cottage cheese with 3 kumquat sliced in half on it, for our noon meal. And from our garden volunteers we are having a bok choi soup, with home canned chicken stock, and freeze dried mushrooms (I got 3 lb. containers of organic mushrooms for $.97 each on clearance, so I bought 20 of them, the sliced, and froze them, until I could get them all freeze dried), chives from the garden, and dehydrated thai basil from last years garden, is all simmering for dinner tonight and lunch tomorrow. We got the kumquat in a clearance box of fruits for $5. It had apples, oranges,lemons,limes,strawberries and the kumquat. It lasted us about a month. I hear people say that doing things like this, uh, frugally, is too much work. Well honestly I just don't know any other way 🤷. It is a part of my core being. And it affords me to on a low fixed retirement income, to not work a job outside of the home, but yet still be able to travel and see the world. Life's good 👍. And frugality is truly rewarding. Get your ducks in a row and mind your budget well. We just finished splitting and stacking enough firewood for the next 3-5 years. And we are growing 1-2 years worth of the food that we eat regularly (of what we can grow in a short Northern climate),and I have plans on how to preserve it to keep my food costs low for the next 1-2 years. I am happy to give of my time at this point in my life, to save me a significant amount of money 💰, to invest, and to enjoy my retirement travel, while I can. May you all be blessed with extra cash flow, or savings this year.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thank you, you too

[@katherinerichardson1767]

The slideshow was well done and well organized. I found the presentation much easier to follow your comments. Thanks for sharing.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Glad it was helpful!

[@pattyperkins5007]

Trying not to spend this month at all.However money was set aside for doctor,as im having tests done.thank you for all your good info !!!!!!

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

You got this!

[@pattyperkins5007]

Best wishes from Illinois❤

[@snapdragon2441]

Missed my frugal reset last month as I was on holiday enjoying the fruits of my frugality. Looking forward to my next frugal reset. 23rd each month for me. Your dogs are sooo cute.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Well deserved

[@lynnegeddes7532]

Our month resets on the 22nd of each month, and all our bills go out on the 1st and 4th of the month, which makes the budgeting a little easier as Jimmy’s UK state pension gets paid every 28 days, which we live on, he also has 2 small private pensions, one is enough to pay our yearly ground rent which includes water and refuse collection, and the other which is smaller pays our car costs. Works for us. I’m receiving treatment for cancer at the moment which is covered by our health insurance which is paid by my small private pension. So, when I get on top of the household budget again, life should be easier 😊

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thinking of you and your recovery xxxx

[@veradegernier2622]

Wishing you a full recovery!

[@patmartin9727]

Good afternoon from a cloudy but dry west Yorkshire in the uk. Looking forward to another budget adjustment video.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Morning!

[@user-zl4rr1ic7w]

Excellent video. I set up my monthly budget about two weeks before the month begins. This upcoming month is the first time in years I am going to car insurance by the month rather than in 6 month increments. Six months in the future I will be back on track. Also lowered my food budget this month because the food pantry helped me out. Your planning is very insightful. Thank you. Judy

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks for watching

[@lisadawson2652]

This was the best blueprint I’ve found to date that is helping me do better with my finances I homeschool my children and a few other families pay me to homeschool their children as well along with extra tutoring I offer to students and this may very based on who needs teaching so I get it that your monthly payments may very as long as I’m using your helpful tips I’m getting better and better each month thank you my friend ❤🙏🏾🇺🇸

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks so much for watching

[@cherlaneharris100]

I really enjoy your videos. This one was especially insightful. Thanks for sharing.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

I hope it was helpful

[@cherlaneharris100]

@@FrugalQueeninFrance it was indeed

[@victoriaclause6152]

I have been binge watching you older videos since I subscribed...I thought I was successfully frugal (mostly habits learned during a relatively impoverished youth), but have absorbed some new inclinations from you. Your level of organization is very inspiring, and I can see several ways to improve my own (rather lacking) skill in that area. Thanks so much.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

You’re welcome and Mike and I would like to thank you for your support.

[@michelehagerman216]

Watching on my work lunch while eating food from home. Excellent, as always

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Enjoy!

[@lorelei9393]

Thx for the tips. When you get started on a budget there are always items you overlook. Like my professional license thats due every 2 years. By looking forward, i can anticipate these

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Great tip!

[@patmartin9727]

I always have a no spend week at the end of each month( this gives me an extra 12 no spend weeks in my year) during this week I do my fridge freezer and pantry inventory update. I write my meal plan, my shopping list for my first shop of the next month. I also write a new budget for the following month and move my money around into the accounts it needs to be in to start the new month.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Just as we do Pat. It sets us up for the month

[@dimopomar]

I am not budgeting in detail yet. It is a habit though and I am willing to put an effort. I am young but I am not a spender in general. I prefer to spend for food and for my house. I try to pay off my debt which is not much. This is my main financial goal for the next 3 years. You have a great channel and your videos are well prepared. Keep up the good work. You inspire me.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks for watching and your feedback

[@jerseygirl4736]

Hi Jane and Mike. I make out all bills for the following month as I receive my Social Security disbursement , around the 20th of every month. I like to shop only 1-2 times a month for the big shopping hauls, the small fill-ins as needed. I'm able to ensure a good rotation of products.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Wonderful! You’re on it!

[@debbieviebranz8100]

Thank you for all the great advice!

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

You are so welcome!

[@juliethompson5301]

Your hair looks lovely Jane ❤

[@AbidaS0301]

Thank you fir sharing lov your frugal monthly beginners set up❤planning ahead frugal ans wisely 😉. Learning frugal living 👍🙏❤❤❤

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks

[@T-tz2ov]

Excellent video, thanks for sharing such great ideas.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks for watching

[@jgrady9553]

Very helpful!

[@elainearchbold259]

Another great video x

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks so much!

[@gladyschandler6724]

Also, only shop when I run out of proteins, maybe 3 weeks

[@jeannetteshahenkari265]

This was such a helpful and informative video. Thank you so much once again 😊😊

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

You are so welcome!

[@LimousinLife]

Very good video Jane 🎉

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thank you! 😃

[@sandrabryan9106]

My budget is very simple. I set up budget at beginning of the year. I pay bills as soon as they come in and I check to see if any have increased. I used to track spending for years and now I have relaxed a bit on this because I keep it under control. I have a monthly grocery budget and will keep receipts and add up at the end of the month but I plan grocery shopping very wisely and have a list. I also know what I have on hand so I don't overspend on things I am not needing. I plan for everything. Vacations, gifts etc within budget. I have a yearly journal in which the first page is dedicated to the budget and my goals for the year and I review it quarterly to make sure I am on track. I save and invest any money leftover at the end of the month so every month I have a zero balance. I do it this way because I only get paid at the end of the month and any extra income (tax refund etc.) that does come in unexpected is put right into investments/savings. Even though it is frustrating in this difficult economy, I try to live below my means.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

You're doing great

[@gladyschandler6724]

I do a rough meal plan on my calendar.

[@jodieupton4000]

Thanks to your channel, I have started a well-needed emergency fund. Also my son´s school bag is very shabby now so I have bookmarked a few on Vinted to see if he likes them as I´d prefer to get a good brand second hand than pay full price and I think it will be cheaper now than in September.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Great job!

[@tutuluvsminnie7129]

we look to what meat is in the freezer and eat the oldest first. I find that i have not gotten used to cooking for 2 yet and underestimate how long it will take us to eat what i cook. so i have started planning 2-3 meals a week and then use leftovers and new sides to fill out the remaining meals. For example, I will steam or bake some potatoes and then use them in 3 different meals with a bit of a twist. The weekly soup usually clears up all the leftover bits. What we buy always depends on what goes on sale that week. Good news on the garden front, i have two tomatoes on my plants right now. I am looking forward to eating from the garden.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

You’re doing fantastic

[@Sally-wm5jh]

We have a fixed income, so we can set the budget at the end of each month for the next. We do go over what expenses we will have that are coming up for the next month and allocate money for each item with set limits like you both do. I have started allowing a weekly budget for food since that seems to be my downfall every month. I only take what is allotted so I can't overspend. I'm hoping that curbs my impulse buying. So far so good. Great video once again.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

You have a very sensible method there.

[@Shantelle6253]

The first thing I do when i do my budget is look at the calendar! My Social Security gets paid the 2nd Wednesday of the month. So that means some months are 5 weeks apart and some are 4. It's very important for me to know which it is!

[@carolynm9798]

During the last week of the month, we set up next month’s budget. I use a spreadsheet and copy and paste from my basic budget sheet to a budget flow sheet (like the log on your bank account). It’s plopped in and I make variations as you do, based on the month. Fir example, I have a dental appointment, so I transfer from my sinking fund the amount for that, dated on the day I will go with the amount also debited. Set up like the register on the account, dated and such, I can see what I call the « cash flow ».

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

That's super

[@kimpatterson8741]

❤

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thank you

[@sophiawolthof1238]

👍👍👍

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thank you

[@kaywallace6139]

B Very good

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks

[@user-es2iz6wh8l]

Thanks for today's insightful vlog ! 😊.. Q.. If you only shop twice a month at the supermarket... How do you manage your vegetables and fruit and fresh bread and milk purchases? ❤

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

We make them last, we eat the salad first things like potatoes, cabbage, carrots, onions last a long time. Bread gets frozen and milk is all long life here , thanks for your question

[@user-es2iz6wh8l]

@@FrugalQueeninFrance Thank-you Jane! All the fruit in our house gets scoffed in a week 🤣!! And my Mike won't touch UHT boxed milk !! 🙈 So I do small weekly top up shop of some fresh items. But the problem is that it's then too tempting to put other stuff in the basket or go looking for reduced down items , ect at the same time.. which ultimately makes the overall monthly food budget higher!! 🤪🙈 I must be more disciplined !! Take care both !! Xx

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

@@user-es2iz6wh8l ah ha! As I serve a combination of take it or leave it with shut up and eat it, funnily enough, there's no complaining!

[@preppernut]

I confess that I am rubbish at budgeting plans. My strength is finding bargains and I found pork fat for $3.06 CDN a kilo, which I will render down today on the wood heater. (evenings are still a bit cool.) My husband loves the cracklings that are left over, and last year my cousin mentioned her granny making cookies with them, which I tried and they are delicious. So no waste. The shelf-stable hydrogenated lard which is on our store shelves was $8.80 a kilo the last time that I bought it. I am looking forward to making some pies with the free apples that I canned last fall.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks

[@clarem2772]

Are all the grocery stores you go to about the same distance, I live in a rural area there is one store about 10 miles after that I would have about a 45 miles away so what I would save would probably go to gas (even in my MINI Cooper) so I go to the close one. I do shop every week because I eat lots of salads and need my milk and long shelf life does not cut it.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

All our stores are more than ten miles

[@joannacurran8475]

I have been saving on my electricity budget by using my solar generator more effectively. It 13:39 is mainly to power my freezer as in my tropical forest home power is not dependable. It is though cheap as we, as a small community, provide our own through hydro. I now do my laundry from solar by doing it only on sunny days. With the savings I hope to soon have enough to buy anothet solar power to help during the up coming rainy season.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

We do that too in the summer

[@moeyzlove]

If I went over aprils grocery budget by 109.67 in may do I deduct that amount from the may grocery budget to try and make up for that? I'm wondering how you would handle a situation like that.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

I can't go over. I move all money except the exact amount I need to live on to savings accounts. If I were you I'd evaluate my spending behavior.

[@moeyzlove]

Fair. We use our credit card to get cash back and then pay it off with our cash at the end of the month. I guess that us likely the problem. The credit card use makes it possible to spend over what we have.

[@user-ww1jk7gu8i]

Because there is a boycotting of Loblaws, and other stores owned by them. People in Canada are not shopping at their stores. I am doing a no shop; fortunate to have a good stockpile of food that I have bought on sales prior. It feels good to not feed their greed, and I get to use up some things, so it is a win win!

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Brilliant ! Boycotts work

[@rena4220]

Wow, there used to be a Loblaws in my area when I was a kid. There was actually 50 stores in New York State at one time. Are you boycotting high prices or another issue?

[@user-ww1jk7gu8i]

@@rena4220 their high prices…took such a high jump. Raking in profits off the Canadian citzens!

[@muttersmenu2422]

I keep a written record of all money spent in a diary 📔, great way of keeping track of the cash flow✔️ I shop frequently but only buy what is needed and yellow sticker when possible 😊. Also I cook for myself from family recipes. As for hobbies, give me the local library and following your channel and Instagram 👍💐 Thank you Jane and Mike for a great talk.

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thanks

[@karryhuston1321]

❤

[@FrugalQueeninFrance]

Thank you